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Prosumers in Action: The Analysis of Social Determinants of Photovoltaic Development and Prosumer Strategies in Poland

Author

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  • Piotr Zuk

    (The Centre for Civil Rights and Democracy Research, Wroclaw, Poland,)

  • Pawel Zuk

    (Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Wroclaw University of Economics, Poland.)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explain the mechanisms that have increased the grassroots development of photovoltaics (PV) in Poland and to explain the motives of prosumers. Micro-installations have become a driving force for PV in Poland, thanks to which the country, whose energy industry is mostly based on hard coal and lignite, became the fourth PV growth market in Europe in 2020. Based on focus group interviews, the authors explain the motives of prosumers, the impact of investing in PV on changing their lifestyle, their readiness to switch to off-grid systems and their potential to create a prosumer social movement in Poland. The decentralisation of the energy sector and the mass prosumer response to the increase in energy price led the government to change the regulations in force in Poland from April 2022, which defined the method of settling the surplus energy given by prosumers to the grid.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr Zuk & Pawel Zuk, 2022. "Prosumers in Action: The Analysis of Social Determinants of Photovoltaic Development and Prosumer Strategies in Poland," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 294-306, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ2:2022-04-32
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Benalcazar, Pablo & Kalka, Maciej & Kamiński, Jacek, 2024. "From consumer to prosumer: A model-based analysis of costs and benefits of grid-connected residential PV-battery systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    2. Bożena Gajdzik & Magdalena Jaciow & Radosław Wolniak & Robert Wolny & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2023. "Energy Behaviors of Prosumers in Example of Polish Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-26, March.
    3. Żuk, Piotr & Buzogány, Aron & Mišík, Matúš & Osička, Jan & Szulecki, Kacper, 2023. "Semi-peripheries in the world-system? The Visegrad group countries in the geopolitical order of energy and raw materials after the war in Ukraine," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    4. Iwona Zdonek & Anna Mularczyk & Marian Turek & Stanisław Tokarski, 2023. "Perception of Prosumer Photovoltaic Technology in Poland: Usability, Ease of Use, Attitudes, and Purchase Intentions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Sokołowski, Jakub, 2023. "Peer effects on photovoltaics (PV) adoption and air quality spillovers in Poland," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    6. Henryk Wojtaszek & Ireneusz Miciuła & Dagmara Modrzejewska & Adam Stecyk & Mariusz Sikora & Agnieszka Wójcik-Czerniawska & Małgorzata Smolarek & Anna Kowalczyk & Małgorzata Chojnacka, 2024. "Energy Policy until 2050—Comparative Analysis between Poland and Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-36, January.
    7. Anna Dębicka & Karolina Olejniczak & Bartosz Radomski & Dariusz Kurz & Dawid Poddubiecki, 2024. "Renewable Energy Investments in Poland: Goals, Socio-Economic Benefits, and Development Directions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-20, May.
    8. Beata Hysa & Anna Mularczyk, 2024. "PESTEL Analysis of the Photovoltaic Market in Poland—A Systematic Review of Opportunities and Threats," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-29, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    micro-installations; prosumers; solar energy; photovoltaics; off-grid system; energy solidarity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation

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